Sridhar Vembu has published an open letter on social media addressed to Indians living in the United States, urging them to return to India and invest their talents in building the country from within.
America Was Good to Us, But the Climate Is Shifting
Vembu began by drawing a parallel between his own journey to America decades ago and that of the Indian diaspora today. He acknowledged that many Indians arrived with little more than a solid education and strong cultural values, and went on to build impressive careers. He expressed gratitude toward America for the opportunities it provided and called gratitude a fundamentally Indian trait.
However, he also highlighted a growing undercurrent of resentment among a significant portion of Americans who believe that Indian immigrants have taken jobs that should belong to locals, and that their success was not fairly earned.
Vembu cautioned against placing too much hope in American elections as a solution to this problem. He described the current political landscape as a clash between two camps, one hostile to Indian civilisational values and another hostile to civilisation in general. His view was clear: Indians in America are largely spectators in that fight, with neither side truly representing their interests.
India’s Reputation Is Tied to India’s Progress
One of the central arguments in the letter was that the respect the Indian community earns globally is inseparable from how India itself performs as a nation. Vembu warned that a poor and struggling India would only attract either sympathy or ridicule from the world, neither of which amounts to real respect. He pointed to technological capability as the key driver of national prestige and prosperity in today’s world.
He also noted that while India has the intellectual capacity to become a tech powerhouse, much of that talent has flowed out of the country, primarily to the United States, leaving a significant gap at home.
A Direct Appeal to Return
Vembu closed his letter with a personal and passionate request. He asked Indian professionals abroad to seriously consider coming back, arguing that India’s young population needs experienced technology leaders to help guide them toward a better future. He framed the return not as a step backward but as a mission driven by purpose, asking the diaspora to embrace it with the same energy and commitment they brought to building their careers abroad.
Source: Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) via X (formerly Twitter)
